A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, granted an application filed by Senator Rochas Okorocha, seeking an order granting him leave to travel to the United States for medical treatment.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, while granting the order after Okorocha’s counsel moved the motion to the effect, however, warned the lawmaker against failure to appear on the next adjourned date.
The EFCC’s lawyer, Chile Okoroma, who is the Director of Legal Services for the agency, opposed the request.
He explained how the applicant flouted the earlier administrative bail granted to him by the anti-corruption agency.
He said he took the agency about six months after the matter was filed to bring the applicant before the court.
Okoroma, who said Okorocha is a flight-risk, said if allowed to travel abroad, the lawmaker would jump bail.
The judge, however, said that since Okorocha had appeared in court, arraigned and the trial commenced, everyone should look forward to the future development.
“I am going to grant this application. But if I grant this application and the defendant fails to appear on the next adjourned date, I will make an order declaring him wanted,” the judge said.
Okoroma, who said he was satisfied with Justice Ekwo’s intervention, withdrew all his initial grounds for opposing the application.
Ruling, Justice Ekwo said that he is of the opinion that the application should be granted because it was on medical grounds.
He held that this would allow the applicant to stand trial.
He ordered Okorocha to return his travel documents to the court registry no later than three days upon his return.
“There shall be consequences if the 1st defendant (Okorocha) fails to appear on the next adjourned date,” Ekwo ruled.
The judge adjourned the matter until Nov. 7, Nov. 8, Nov. 9, Nov. 10, and Nov. 11 for trial continuation.
